Lafayette Jerl Thomas (June 13, 1928 – May 20, 1977)Harris, S. (1981). Blues Who's Who. New York: Da Capo Press, pp. 509–510, was an American

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

singer, and guitarist.

Early life

Thomas was born on June 13, 1928, in

Shreveport Shreveport ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the List of municipalities in Louisiana, third-most populous city in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Baton Rouge. The bulk of Shreveport is in Caddo Parish, Lo ...

, Louisiana. He sang in a local church choir as a youth, and was first introduced to blues guitar by his uncle, musician Jesse "Babyface" Thomas.

Career

Thomas began his music career in 1947 after a move to San Francisco, California, playing with Al Simmons’ Rhythm Rockers. The following year he joined

Jimmy McCracklin James David Walker Jr. (August 13, 1921 – December 20, 2012), better known by his stage name Jimmy McCracklin, was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. His style contained West Coast blues, Jump blues, and R&B. Over a career that ...

's band, and continued to work and record with McCracklin for most of the rest of his life. He also frequently recorded on sessions with other singers, including Jimmy Wilson, from the late 1940s into the 1950s. As well as recording with McCracklin, Wilson and others, Thomas recorded a number of sessions of his own during the 1950s, appearing as L. J. Thomas and his Louisiana Playboys, or "Thing" Thomas, on

Chess Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...

, as Jerry Thomas on

Modern Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosophy ...

, and as Lafayette Thomas on a number of other labels.Leadbitter, M., Fancourt, L. and Pelletier, P. (1994): Blues Records 1943–1970 Vol 2, London: Record Information Services, pp. 591–592 He temporarily moved to New York City, where he worked with

Sammy Price Samuel Blythe Price (October 6, 1908 – April 14, 1992) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. Price's playing is dark, mellow, and relaxed rather than percussive, and he was a specialist at creating the ...

Memphis Slim John Len Chatman (September 3, 1915 – February 24, 1988), known professionally as Memphis Slim, was an American blues pianist, singer, and composer. He led a series of bands that, reflecting the popular appeal of jump blues, included saxopho ...

, and

Little Brother Montgomery Eurreal Wilford "Little Brother" Montgomery (April 18, 1906 – September 6, 1985) was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and blues pianist and singer. Largely self-taught, Montgomery was an important blues pianist with an original style. He was ...

between 1958 and 1960 before returning to California. In 1968 he recorded an album with Dave Alexander and L.C. ‘Good Rockin’’ Robinson for

World Pacific Records Pacific Jazz Records was a Los Angeles–based record company and label best known for cool jazz or West coast jazz. It was founded in 1952 by producer Richard Bock (1927–1988) and drummer Roy Harte (1924–2003). Harte, in 1954, also co-founde ...

. He remained active in the early 1970s, working with

Sugar Pie DeSanto Peylia Marsema Balinton (October 16, 1935 – December 20, 2024), known professionally as Sugar Pie DeSanto, was an American R&B singer and dancer, whose career in music flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Early life DeSanto was born on October ...

and others. Thomas died on May 20, 1977, from a heart attack, in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

, California, at the age of 48.

Influences and reception

Nicknamed "The Thing" for his acrobatic playing style, Thomas was influenced by his uncle Jesse Thomas, and T-Bone Walker. Writing in ''Living Blues'' magazine in July 1977, Tom Mazzolini, director of the

San Francisco Blues Festival The San Francisco Blues Festival was active from 1973 until 2008, and was located in San Francisco, California. It was one of the longest running blues festival in the United States. History Tom Mazzolini, the event's producer, founded the bl ...

said, "Unquestionably the finest guitarist to emerge from the San Francisco-Oakland blues scene, there is hardly a guitarist around here today who doesn't owe a little something to Lafayette Thomas".

Discography

As leader

Singles

* "Baby Take A Chance With Me" / "Sam’s Drag" (Chess, 1952) * "Don’t Have To Worry" / "Lost Mind" (Modern, 1954) * "Weekly Blues" / "The Thing" (Trylite, 1955) * "Cockroach Run" / "The Trial" (Jumping, 1957) B-side by ' The Jumping Judge and his Court' * "Please Come Back To Me" / "Lafayette’s A-Coming" (

Savoy Savoy (; )  is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south and west and to the Aosta Vall ...

, 1959)

Albums

With L. C. Robinson and Dave Alexander *''Oakland Blues'' (World Pacific, 1969)

As Sideman

With

*'' Tasty Blues'' (Bluesville, 1961) With

*'' Just Blues'' (Bluesville, 1961) *'' No Strain'' (Bluesville, 1961) With

*''I Just Gotta Know'' (Imperial, 1963)

References

External links

Lafayette Thomas discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Lafayette 1928 births 1977 deaths American blues guitarists American male guitarists American blues singers Musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana West Coast blues musicians 20th-century American singers Blues musicians from Louisiana 20th-century American guitarists Singers from Louisiana Guitarists from Louisiana 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American pianists